Author: claimsbot

1. A method for calibrating a microarrayer print head with respect to a microarrayer component, the print head including a spotting member having a first end and a tip defining an elongate axis therebetween, the calibration permitting the spotting member to produce a function with the microarrayer component selected from the group consisting of blotting, spotting, drawing a biological sample from a source plate and spotting member cleaning, the method comprising:
(a) guiding the print head to a first location in which the spotting member is spaced apart from the component so that the spotting member axis is transverse to the component;
(b) calibrating the first location as a microarrayer first position;
(c) guiding the print head along the axis to a second location proximate to the component wherein in the second location the spotting member is capable of producing the function with the second component selected from the group consisting of spotting member blotting, spotting, drawing a sample from a source plate and spotting member cleaning; and
(d) calibrating the second location as a microarrayer second position.
2. The method of claims 1, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a plate defining a plurality of fluid flow channel members formed through the plate, each channel member defining an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the spotting member comprises a first pin received in the print head and (i) in the first position the spotting member axis is transverse to the center of a first channel member inlet so that the tip is proximate to the center of the inlet.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein a second pin is received in the print head and laterally spaced apart from the first pin so that the second pin axis is transverse to the center of the inlet of a second channel member of the plate.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first pin is received in a first position on the printhead, and a second pin is received in a last position on the print head.
6. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a vacuum manifold and the tip of the spotting member in the first position is spaced about 100 micrometers apart from the vacuum manifold.
7. The method of any claims 1 to 3, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a source plate selected from the group consisting of a 1536-well source plate, a 384-well source plate, and a 96-well source plate, and the tip of the spotting member in the first position is spaced about 2 millimeter apart from the source place.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spotting member is in contact with the microarrayer component when the print head is in the second position.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a first end and a second end defining a component axis therebetween and the spotting member axis is coaxial with the microarrayer component axis.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of spotting members are received in the print head and in the first position the spotting member is received in the last position on the print head.
11. The method of claim 2 wherein the first spotting member is received in a first position on the print head and a second spotting member is received in a last position on the print head.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the microarrayer component is selected from the group consisting of a vacuum manifold, a 1536-well source plate, a 384-well source plate, a 96-well source plate, a blot slide, and a microarray slide.
13. The method of any of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, wherein the print head is guided by a processor.
14. The method of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, wherein the print head is guided by a joystick means.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the function is dispensing.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the dispensing function is blotting.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the dispensing function is spotting.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the function is holding.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the holding function is drawing a biological sample from a source plate.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the holding function is spotting member cleaning.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame made of structural foam, the seat frame having a main body portion having a forward portion, a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion;
a first wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;
a cushion supported on the seat frame, the cushion being softer than the seat frame; and
a trim material disposed over the cushion.
2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second wire attachment bracket spaced laterally from the first wire attachment bracket, the second wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan.
3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the front attachment tabs are securable within mounting ports in a vehicle floor pan via a snap fit, and each of the rear attachment tabs comprising a closed-loop portion securable to a vehicle floor pan via bolts.
4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the seat frame has a third groove portion, spaced laterally from the first and second groove portions, to receive at least a portion of the connecting portion of the second wire attachment bracket.
5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the forward portion of the seat frame has apertures to receive the front attachment tabs and the rear attachment tabs each comprise a closed loop opening.
6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the structural foam is made of expanded polyolefin.
7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the structural foam is made of EPP and the cushion is made of polyurethane foam.
8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body portion of the seat frame has at least one recess disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the recess extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion, the cushion extending from a forward portion to a rearward portion, the forward portion of the cushion being supported on the forward portion of the seat frame to the rearward portion of the cushion being supported on the rearward portion of the seat frame.
9. A vehicle seat frame component securable to a vehicle floor pan, the seat frame component comprising:
a seat frame made of structural foam, the seat fame having a main body portion having a forward portion, and a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion, the main body portion of the seat frame having an opening disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the opening extending between an upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion, the opening having a width of 10 to 30 cm; and
a first wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan.
10. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 further comprising a second wire attachment bracket spaced laterally from the first wire attachment bracket, the second wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, the seat frame being supportable on the vehicle floor pan.
11. The vehicle seat flame component of claim 10 wherein the front attachment tabs are detachably securable within mounting ports in a vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tabs are detachably securable to a vehicle floor pan.
12. The vehicle seat flame component of claim 10 wherein the seat flame has a third groove portion to receive at least a portion of the connecting portion of the second wire attachment bracket, the third groove portion being spaced laterally from the first and second groove portions, and the opening being disposed between the first and second groove portions and the third groove portion.
13. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 wherein the forward portion of the seat frame has an aperture to receive the front attachment tab.
14. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 wherein the structural foam is made of expanded polyolefin and the first wire attachment bracket has a yield strength of 275 to 475 MPa.
15. A method of making a vehicle seat assembly, said method comprising:
providing a seat frame made of structural foam and having a main body portion, a forward portion, a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion;
securing an attachment bracket to the seat frame, the attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;
supporting a foam cushion on the seat frame; and disposing a trim material over the cushion and the seat frame.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an vehicle floor pan and securing the attachment tabs of the attachment bracket to the floor pan.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the attachment tabs are secured to the floor pan via an interference fit.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the main body portion of the seat frame has at least one recess disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the recess extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the groove has a first portion disposed on the forward portion of the main body portion in front of the recess and a second portion disposed on the rearward portion of the main body portion behind the recess.
20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the recess is 10 to 30 cm wide.

1. A method for moderating connections in a simulated neural circuit in a simulated physical volume, wherein the simulated neural circuit includes a plurality of simulated neurons having input branches that are configured to connect to a plurality of inputs and activate in response to activity in the inputs to which the input branches are connected, and wherein the simulated neurons are configured to activate in response to activity in their input branches, the method comprising:
forming, using at least one computer, initial connections between various input branches and various inputs in the simulated physical volume;
activating, using the at least one computer, a set of the inputs in the simulated physical volume; and
moderating, using the at least one computer, the stability of connections between input branches and inputs based on the activated set of inputs and a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes reducing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes reducing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes reducing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes reducing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes reducing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes increasing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs includes increasing the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein forming initial connections between various input branches and various inputs comprises forming initial connections between various input branches and various inputs based on the activated set of inputs.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein forming initial connections between various input branches and various inputs comprises forming initial connections between various input branches and various inputs based on a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and the simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein moderating the stability of connections between input branches and inputs comprises one or more of forming, increasing the stability of, decreasing the stability of, and severing connections between input branches and inputs based on the activated set of inputs and a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
12. A method for generating a simulated neural circuit in a simulated physical volume, the method comprising:
generating, using at least one computer, a first array of simulated neurons having output branches in the simulated physical volume;
generating, using the at least one computer, a second array of simulated neurons having input branches in the simulated physical volume;
activating, using the at least one computer, a set of the output branches of the first array of simulated neurons in the simulated physical volume; and
growing, using the at least one computer, one or more of the input branches of the simulated neurons of the second array of simulated neurons in the simulated physical volume, wherein the growth of at least one particular input branch is influenced in the direction of one of the activated output branches of the first array of simulated neurons.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising simulating the release of an attractant by one or more of the activated output branches in response to activating the set of output branches, wherein:
the particular input branch is configured to grow in the direction of the attractant; and
growing the input branches of the simulated neurons of the second array of simulated neurons comprises growing the particular input branch in the direction of the attractant.
14. A computer program for moderating connections in a simulated neural circuit, wherein the simulated neural circuit includes a plurality of simulated neurons having input branches that are configured to connect to a plurality of inputs and activate in response to activity in the inputs to which the input branches are connected, and wherein the simulated neurons are configured to activate in response to activity in their input branches, the computer program embodied on a tangible computer-readable storage medium and including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
form initial connections between various input branches and various inputs in a simulated physical volume;
activate a set of the inputs branches in the simulated physical volume; and
moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs based on the activated set of inputs and a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
15. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to decrease the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
16. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to decrease the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
17. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to decrease the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was not among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
18. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to decrease the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
19. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to decrease the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
20. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to increase the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs remained inactive in response to the activated set of inputs.
21. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to increase the stability of a connection between a particular input branch and a particular input when the particular input was among the activated set of inputs, the particular input branch was activated in response to the activated set of inputs, and the simulated neuron to which the particular input branch belongs was activated in response to the activated set of inputs.
22. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to form initial connections between various input branches and various inputs comprise instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to form initial connections between various input branches and various inputs based on the activated set of inputs.
23. The computer of claim 22 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to form initial connections between various input branches and various inputs comprise instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to form initial connections between various input branches and various inputs based on a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and the simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
24. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to moderate the stability of connections between input branches and inputs comprise instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform one or more of forming, increasing the stability of, decreasing the stability of, and severing connections between input branches and inputs based on the activated set of inputs and a pattern of activity generated in the input branches and simulated neurons in response to the activated set of inputs.
25. A computer program for generating a simulated neural circuit, the computer program embodied on a tangible computer-readable storage medium and including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
generate a first array of simulated neurons having output branches;
generate a second array of simulated neurons having input branches;
activate a set of the output branches of the first array of simulated neurons; and
grow one or more of the input branches of the simulated neurons of the second array of simulated neurons, wherein the growth of at least one particular input branch is influenced in the direction of one of the activated output branches of the first array of simulated neurons.
26. The computer program of claim 25 further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to simulate the release of an attractant by one or more of the activated output branches in response to activating the set of output branches, wherein:
the particular input branch is configured to grow in the direction of the attractant; and
the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to grow the input branches of the simulated neurons of the second array of simulated neurons comprise instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to grow the individual branch in the direction of the attractant.
27. A simulated neural circuit embodied in hardware, the simulated neural circuit comprising:
a plurality of inputs; and
a plurality of simulated neurons having input branches that are connected to one or more inputs and that activate in response to activity in the inputs to which the input branches are connected, wherein:
the simulated neurons are configured to activate in response to activity in their input branches, and
the simulated neural circuit is configured to moderate the stability of the connections between input branches and inputs based on patterns of activity generated in the input branches and simulated neurons in response a pattern of activity in the inputs.
28. A system for generating a simulated neural circuit, the system comprising:
a processor configured to:
generate a first array of simulated neurons having output branches;
generate a second array of simulated neurons having input branches;
activate a set of the output branches of the first array of simulated neurons; and

grow one or more of the input branches of the simulated neurons of the second array of simulated neurons, wherein the growth of at least one particular input branch is influenced in the direction of one of the activated output branches of the first array of simulated neurons.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A rear imaging system for an automotive vehicle having a rear license plate comprising:
a) a rectangular frame for securing said license plate and attaching it to said vehicle, said frame including an upper horizontal portion having mounting apertures, and a lower horizontal portion, said horizontal portions extending to lateral extremities that join with oppositely paired vertical side portions,
b) a waterproof compartment outwardly protruding from said lower horizontal portion and elongated between opposite end panels located adjacent said side portions,
c) left and right camera units positioned within said compartment adjacent opposite extremities thereof, each camera unit comprised of a miniature TV camera with interactive wireless signal-transmitting feature,
d) at least one dry cell battery located within said compartment and adapted to power one or both said camera units, and
e) left and right display screens which receive signals from said left and right camera units, respectively, and produce the consequent images, said screens being located within said vehicle within easy view of the driver.
2. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the end panels of said waterproof compartment contain viewing apertures.
3. The imaging system of claim 2 wherein said end panels are convergently angled toward the center of the frame.
4. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein said frame is further bounded by forward and rearward faces.
5. The imaging system of claim 4 wherein brackets are mounted upon said forward face for the further securement of said license plate.
6. The imaging system of claim 3 wherein said camera units have viewing angles between 45 and 60 degrees with respect to a center viewing axis.
7. The imaging system of claim 6 wherein said camera units interact with said viewing apertures in a manner such that the center viewing axis is orthogonal to said end panel and the forward-most extremity of said viewing angle is substantially parallel to said frame.
8. The imaging system of claim 4 wherein an access panel is located in said forward face.